The Austin-Area Rare Bird Alert is a service of the Travis Audubon Society. This update is as of 9.00am, January 29th, 2009:
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
An amazing 12 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (Sialia mexicana) were photographed on Canyon Lake on January 24th, and were still present at least thru January 26th. These birds are located at Cranes Mill Park on the southside of the lake, about two-thirds of the way from the entrance to the end of the peninsula there.
A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was along Shoal Creek near where it runs into Lake Lady Bird in Austin on January 23rd.
Single ZONE-TAILED HAWKS (Buteo albonotatus) were noted on January 22nd in two locations. One was near the intersection of FM 969 and FM 1209 in western Bastrop County and the other was studied in Hays County near the intersection of FM 2327 and Red Hawk Road near Wimberley.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
Up to 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS (Buteo regalis) continue in the fields between FM 1625 and HWY 183 south of McKenzie Road as of January 20th. These birds were first seen on the Austin Christmas Bird Count on December 20th.
A LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) continues at McKinney Falls State Park as of January 19th. This bird was also first located during the Austin CBC on December 20th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) has been present (and photographed) at a private residence in nw. Austin near the Arboretum from January 18th thru January 20th.
A WILSON'S WARBLER (Wilsonia pusilla) was studied at Palmetto State Park on January 18th.
A SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus) was studied on January 13th at Pedernales Falls State Park near the trail head for the Twins Falls overlook in the car camping area.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society
--- RARITIES FOUND THIS PAST WEEK---
An amazing 12 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (Sialia mexicana) were photographed on Canyon Lake on January 24th, and were still present at least thru January 26th. These birds are located at Cranes Mill Park on the southside of the lake, about two-thirds of the way from the entrance to the end of the peninsula there.
A GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) was along Shoal Creek near where it runs into Lake Lady Bird in Austin on January 23rd.
Single ZONE-TAILED HAWKS (Buteo albonotatus) were noted on January 22nd in two locations. One was near the intersection of FM 969 and FM 1209 in western Bastrop County and the other was studied in Hays County near the intersection of FM 2327 and Red Hawk Road near Wimberley.
--- CONTINUING BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
Up to 3 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS (Buteo regalis) continue in the fields between FM 1625 and HWY 183 south of McKenzie Road as of January 20th. These birds were first seen on the Austin Christmas Bird Count on December 20th.
A LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma longirostre) continues at McKinney Falls State Park as of January 19th. This bird was also first located during the Austin CBC on December 20th.
--- RARE SIGHTINGS FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS ---
A female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) has been present (and photographed) at a private residence in nw. Austin near the Arboretum from January 18th thru January 20th.
A WILSON'S WARBLER (Wilsonia pusilla) was studied at Palmetto State Park on January 18th.
A SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus) was studied on January 13th at Pedernales Falls State Park near the trail head for the Twins Falls overlook in the car camping area.
--
Eric Carpenter
Rare Bird Alert Compiler, Travis Audubon Society